Since 2001, we have invested billions in new, upgraded and expanded highways, bridges, resource roads, schools, hospitals, airports and more. As part of our plan to keep British Columbia strong through the global economic downturn, we are investing $14 billion over the next three years to build infrastructure like roads, hospitals and schools and create 88,000 jobs. Many of these projects will be accelerated to get people to work as quickly as possible.
Since 2001, almost $9 billion has been invested in more than 25 Public-Private Partnership projects, and taxpayers have reaped benefits of more than $340 million in savings from those partnerships. Challenges and Opportunities:
The global economy is struggling, but our province's needs for renewed and expanded infrastructure don't disappear because of those global challenges. And more importantly, with B.C. well-positioned to weather the economic storm, having transportation infrastructure in place to capitalize on the economic rebound will be critical. Should we continue to invest in infrastructure to create jobs and improve B.C.’s competitiveness? Where should taxpayer dollars be invested where they will have the most impact in jobs and economic growth? Discussion:
Should government take advantage of the global economic slowdown and fast-track infrastructure projects? Should we expand the successful P3 model? And are there projects government should focus on or scale back?
B.C.'s small business growth leads Canada
B.C. government eliminated 164,000 pieces of red tape
B.C. Liberals lowered small business taxes
Province cut corporate taxes by one-third
Record funding for K-12 education
Class size limits enshrined in law
B.C. parents' right to volunteer guaranteed in law
Province adds more front-line staff for children at risk
B.C. Liberal government provided more funding for community infrastructure
B.C. government grants $285 M for regional economic trusts
All traffic fine revenue returned to cities annually
Provincial income tax eliminated for a quarter million low-income people
Number of child care spaces receiving operating funding almost double
B.C. Liberal government cut income taxes to lowest in Canada
Agreements providing social and economic opportunities for First Nations
B.C. Liberal Government signed modern treaties with six First Nations
Aboriginal unemployment a third lower than in 2001
B.C. Liberal government increased funding for health care by 60 per cent
B.C.'s first new regional hospital in 30 years built in Abbotsford
New hospitals under construction in five communities
Twice as many doctors being trained in B.C. than in 1990s
North America's most progressive climate action plan, praised by climatologists and economists
Carbon tax funds tax cuts and impact equal to removing 800,000 vehicles
Over 12,000 new and replacement seniors' care beds and units
Wait time for residential care down to 90 days from one year
B.C. government providing more home support care hours than ever before
B.C. Liberal government created seven new universities
